Bestuurssecretaris/Board Secretary

The Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady Mother of Mercy was founded on November 23, 1832 by Joannes Zwijsen. As a pastor in Tilburg, Joannes Zwijsen was touched by the poor social conditions of his parishioners. Day laborers and textile workers who earned only a meager wage with hard work. Child labor was common. That is why he decided to found two congregations: the Sisters of Charity and the Brothers of Tilburg. The aim of both congregations was to work in Tilburg in the field of education and health care for the poor and disadvantaged.

Due to the great demand for aid for education and health care, the congregation grew rapidly, both in the Netherlands and across the border. In addition, care was expanded to care for orphans, the elderly and the disabled, and for the nursing of the sick.

Much has changed in monastic life over the past forty years. In the western countries the great works of charity have been handed over to laymen, in Asia and South-America the sisters still work fully in projects in care and education. The congregation responds to these social developments by looking for new forms of being religious. What remains is the joint effort to stand up for the least fortunate.

Organization structure

Congregation Sisters of Charity is now active in eight countries: Belgium, Brazil, Indonesia, the Netherlands, USA, Philippines, England/Ireland and East Timor.

Worldwide, the congregation consists of about 500 sisters. The congregation is governed by the General council, now consisting of four sisters. This council is elected every six years by delegates from across the congregation.

The organization is led from the Generalate in the Netherlands (now from 's-Hertogenbosch, from September 2023 from Tilburg). The General council and the staff departments of Finance and the Board Secretariat are located here.

Job Description

As board secretary you come directly under the General council and you manage the Secretariat, the Household Service and the employees of the Archives and Museum.

You are responsible for:

• Monitoring policy implementation
• Preparing and taking minutes of council meetings
• Drawing up the annual plan of the General Board
• Writing the annual report
• Preparing, organizing and supervising international meetings
• Taking minutes and reporting
• Develop policy with regard to relevant legislation and regulations (visas, residence permits)
• Personnel policy and management of personnel files

The role of board secretary requires a broad social and international orientation. You take this broad view with you in your role as sparring partner and advisor to the General Board.

You are proactive and like to think along about the further development of the congregation. You have a natural affinity with the spiritual multicultural environment in which you work. You have an excellently developed sensitivity when it comes to bringing together and attuning cultures in their differences and similarities.

You are accessible and accessible to the sisters and you are well aware of many matters that are discussed throughout the congregation.

You are the connecting link with insight and overview. You are flexible and can switch quickly and easily if the situation calls for it.

Job Requirements

Job requirements:

• An academic level of thinking and working.
• International orientation, sensitivity to cultural differences.
• Knowledge of the business aspects of an organization.
• Knowledge of relevant laws and regulations.
• Strong in organizing and planning and with foresight.
• Affinity with and/or knowledge of religious life.
• Excellent expression skills in English.

Working Conditions

Congregation Sisters of Charity offers the new secretary of the board a wonderful challenge in an internationally oriented, socially involved organization. The formation is 0.8 FTE. In case of large, international meetings, the board secretary is expected to be available 24/7.

The position is honoured in accordance with the KNR legal position regulations 2022, scale 60/65, depending on education and experience.

Procedure

Marianne Oude Veldhuis, senior advisor to Rieken & Oomen, supervises this procedure. She conducts interviews with potentially suitable candidates for the position. Rieken & Oomen then presents suitable candidates to the Sisters of Charity Congregation.

Application and Information

For substantive questions about the job profile, you can contact Marianne Oude Veldhuis. Marianne can be reached via telephone number 043-321 96 07.

We would like to receive applications before Sunday, November 20 via www.riekenoomen.nl/vacatures . If you click on this vacancy, you can respond via your personal file.

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